Norway gives NOK 410 million to UN’s emergency response fund

‘Seldom has the world witnessed so many major humanitarian crises as it did in 2014, and the UN estimates that the need for humanitarian relief will continue to increase next year,’ said Foreign Minister Børge Brende. Norway will increase its support to humanitarian crises through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund.

At a pledging conference in New York today, Norway will announce a contribution to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) of NOK 380 million for 2015.In response to the many underfunded crises in the world, Norway has recently provided an additional NOK 30 million to CERF, bringing Norway’s total contribution for 2014 up to NOK 410 million.

The UN has recently launched its largest global appeal ever, based on an estimate that nearly 78 million people will need emergency relief in 2015. There are now more than 50 million displaced people in the world. Since its establishment in 2006, the CERF has been an important channel for rapid mobilisation of funds for humanitarian efforts. Norway is the third largest donor to the fund, that has disbursed nearly NOK 2.7 billion this year.

‘A considerable part of Norway’s funding to CERF this year has been used for the fight against Ebola in West Africa, and in response to major crises such as those in South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Iraq. One of the reasons why CERF is so important is that it supports underfunded crises, for example in Niger, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of Congo,’ said Mr Brende.

All together, the Government has allocated more than NOK 3.3 billion for humanitarian efforts in 2015, an increase of nearly NOK 430 million from 2014.

‘This increase in humanitarian aid means that Norway will continue to play an important part in the response to today’s crises – in the Central African Republic, Iraq, Syria and South Sudan. In many cases, it is difficult to reach the affected population, and the need for emergency relief and protection is vast. In addition, many people who have fled to neighbouring countries are in need of help. Norway will also be able to help people in need in a number of other serious humanitarian situations,’ said Mr Brende.